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Certificate in Fundraising - Virtual Delivery

  • 17 March 2026 9:30am to 9 December 2026 12:30pm
  • COU-SC0998
  • Qualification

The Certificate in Fundraising is a professionally recognised qualification for early-career fundraisers. Through four integrated modules, you’ll build the knowledge, skills and confidence to drive sustainable fundraising success. Whether in a small charity or large organisation, you’ll be equipped to contribute more effectively and take your next career step.

Course Fees
Individual Member Fee
  • £2,155.00
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Non-Individual Member
  • £2,316.00
Buy

Please note: The booking deadline for this qualification is 20 February 2026. 

Course modules
Module 1: The Fundraising Envrionment

In this first module of the certificate, you will examine how evidence-based strategic planning forms a core component in achieving sustainable fundraising growth for an organisation and how theory can be simply and effectively incorporated into daily fundraising practice. 

This module lays the foundation for your future learning, equipping you with essential skills that will be valuable throughout the course. It also facilitates the identification of real strategic opportunities that you can pursue in later modules. 

Module 2: Fundraising Methods and Approaches

In the second module, you will explore structured approaches to evaluating an organisation’s fundraising effectiveness, focusing on fundraising methods, income mix, and alignment with operational objectives. You will assess philanthropic orientation and examine the ethical, sustainable, and inclusive nature of fundraising practices. This module will also explore the role of digital tools and A.I. in enhancing fundraising practices, before applying evaluative techniques to identify strategic priorities for optimising income streams. 

Module 3: Donor Motivation: Insights, Communication and Psychology

For the third module, you will study the key drivers behind donor motivation and behaviour. It will provide insights that inform more effective communication strategies and support the development of meaningful, long-term philanthropic relationships, which are more rewarding for the donor and enhance fundraising results. By exploring the psychological, cultural, ethical and behavioural factors that influence charitable giving, this module offers a critical examination of how individual and collective motivations can be used to shape more compelling propositions for specific donor segment engagement. 

Module 4 - Planning Effective Fundraising

In this final module, you will employ a structured and evidence-based approach to developing a comprehensive strategic fundraising plan. Building on insights from the previous modules, you will apply strategic planning frameworks and decision-making models to effectively set fundraising objectives, prioritise strategic directions, and manage resources. You will also study how to conduct market segmentation and brand positioning for the purpose of selecting tactical activities that optimise income generation. 

By the end of the module, you will be able to implement budgeting, scheduling, and monitoring tools that clearly convey the operational requirements for long-term fundraising success and use communication theory to develop a robust stakeholder communication plan that clearly conveys financial and operational requirements. 

Key information

 

Module 1

Pre-Course Work Begins

 5 March 2026
Module 1 Session 1 17 March 2026, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 1 Session 2 18 March 2026, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 1 Tutorial 22 April 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
Assignment 1 Deadline 13 May 2026

Module 2

Pre-Module Work Begins    

 27 May 2026
Module 2 Session 1 9 June 2026, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 2 Session 2 10 June 2026, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 2 Tutorial 1 July 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
Assignment 2 Deadline 22 July 2026

Module 3

Pre-Module Work Begins    

 5 August 2026
Module 3 Session 1 18 August 2026, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 3 Session 2 19 August 2026, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 3 Tutorial 9 September 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
Assignment 3 Deadline 30 September 2026

Module 4

Pre-Module Work Begins    

 14 October 2026
Module 4 Session 1 27 October 2026, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 4 Session 2 28 October 2026, 9:30 - 12:30
Module 4 Tutorial 18 November 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
Assignment 4 Deadline 9 December 2026

Learner’s must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the Certificate in Fundraising.   

  • This qualification is for adult learners  
  • Designed for practitioners responsible for actively fundraising or supporting fundraising with a minimum of 12 months experience in a paid or voluntary capacity 
  • Learners must have in-depth knowledge of at least one area of fundraising and be confident about best practice within this area 
  • A learner’s organisation must be supportive of them completing the qualification 
  • Learners are required to have a good command of written and spoken English. For more information, please contact learning@ciof.org.uk.
  • Learners will need to have access to a computer and adequate internet speed to access course materials and participate in virtual/online sessions 

Pre-course work is required before the start of each module to ensure students are fully prepared for their teaching sessions. Each module is made up of two teachings sessions and a tutorial via Zoom. Learners are expected to attend all live teaching sessions and tutorials.

In addition to the teaching sessions and tutorials, there are approximately 400 hours of self-directed study to complete this qualification.

Students are also required to complete four work based assignments. It is recommended that you make a note of the key dates for each module as well as the assignment deadlines before booking onto the qualification

You will need to purchase the course textbook Fundraising Management Analysis, Planning and Practice (4th Edition) by Adrian Sargeant, Jayne George Routledge, London. 

The course textbook is not included in the fees. 

A photo of CIOF member Dave Richardson
Dave Richardson
Community and Special Events Fundraiser

If you are starting out in this sector or perhaps a year or so in, looking to build your confidence as a fundraiser, or are looking to learn methods, strategies, techniques, and processes that will help you grow into your role and improve standards and services of the charity you work for, then I am delighted to whole heartedly recommend this course to you.